Brick chimney guide

Abstract

The brick chimney guide is an apparatus for holding successive brick courses in proper alignment during the construction of brick chimneys or columns. The apparatus is comprised of four angle upright members mutually connected by eight horizontal bars. The end of each horizontal bar is held frictionally by corner brackets at the top and bottom of each angle upright member. The guide is attached to a chimney by jacking screws on the bottom of each of the four angle upright members. The screws hold the guide in place by friction and help align the guide in a plumb and square manner. The angle upright members physically maintain each of the four corners of the brick structure in vertical alignment throughout the construction process.

I claim: 
     
       1. A chimney alignment guide comprising:
 a first, a second, a third and a fourth longitudinal member, each said longitudinal member comprising an angle shape having a first flange and a second flange connected to said first flange, each said longitudinal member having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; 
 each said longitudinal member further comprising a first and a second bracket; each said first bracket connected to a respective one of said longitudinal members proximate said first longitudinal end and each said second bracket connected to a respective one of said longitudinal member proximate said second longitudinal end, each of said brackets further comprising a first tab and a second tab connected to said first tab, each of said brackets further comprising a first opening on each said first tab and a second opening on each said second tab; 
 a first, a second, a third and a fourth longitudinal bar, said first longitudinal bar being received in said first opening of said first respective bracket of said first longitudinal member and in said first opening of said first bracket of said second longitudinal member, said second longitudinal bar being received in said first opening of said first respective bracket of said third longitudinal member and in said first opening of said first bracket of said fourth longitudinal member, said third longitudinal bar being received in said second opening of said first respective bracket of said first longitudinal member and in said second opening of said first bracket of said third longitudinal member and said fourth longitudinal bar being received in said second opening of said first bracket of said second longitudinal member and in said second opening of said first bracket of said fourth longitudinal member; 
 a fifth, a sixth, a seventh and an eighth longitudinal bar, said fifth longitudinal bar being received in said first opening of said second respective bracket of said first longitudinal member and in said first opening of said second respective bracket of said second longitudinal member, said sixth longitudinal bar being received in said first opening of said second respective bracket of said third longitudinal member and in said first opening of said second bracket of said fourth longitudinal member, said seventh longitudinal bar being received in said second opening of said second respective bracket of said first longitudinal member and in said second opening of said second bracket of said third longitudinal member and said eighth longitudinal bar being received in said second opening of said second bracket of said second longitudinal member and in said second opening of said second bracket of said fourth longitudinal member; 
 each said longitudinal bar being slidable in the respective openings in which said respective bar is received; and, 
 each said bracket having a first and a second aperture and receiving a thumb screw, each said thumb screw configured to restrict sliding of one of said respective bars received in said respective opening by tightening said respective thumb screw.